Liam O'Brien (ice hockey)

Last updated • 3 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia
Liam O'Brien
Liam O'Brien 2023-04-06 (cropped).jpeg
O'Brien with the Arizona Coyotes in 2023
Born (1994-07-29) July 29, 1994 (age 30)
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
Position Centre
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams
Utah Hockey Club
Washington Capitals
Colorado Avalanche
Arizona Coyotes
NHL draft Undrafted
Playing career 2014present

Liam O'Brien (born July 29, 1994) is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward for the Utah Hockey Club of the National Hockey League (NHL). Nicknamed "Spicy Tuna" [1] by Utah fans, O'Brien is mostly known as an enforcer.

Contents

Playing career

O'Brien was drafted in the first round, 10th overall, by the Rimouski Oceanic in the 2010 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) Draft. He scored his first QMJHL goal in his second game, against the Lewiston Maineiacs. [2] He played for the Oceanic until 2011, when he was traded to the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies for draft picks. [3]

Passed over in the NHL Entry Draft, O'Brien received a training camp invite from the Washington Capitals in 2014, and made the team, signing a three-year entry-level contract on October 6, 2014. [4] [5] He made his NHL debut on October 9, 2014 in a game against the Montreal Canadiens, in which he registered his first NHL fight against the Canadiens' Brandon Prust. [6]

O'Brien with the Bears in 2015 Liam O'Brien.jpg
O'Brien with the Bears in 2015

On June 10, 2019, O'Brien agreed to return for his sixth season within the Capitals organization, agreeing to a one-year, two-way contract extension. [7] O'Brien was waived by the Washington Capitals on September 30, 2019 and loaned to the Hershey Bears the following day.

On the completion of his sixth year with the Bears, O'Brien left the Capitals organization as a free agent. With the COVID-19 pandemic delaying the following North American season, O'Brien was belatedly signed to an American Hockey League (AHL) contract with the Colorado Eagles, primary affiliate to the Colorado Avalanche, on November 27, 2020. [8] In the 2020-21 season, O'Brien immediately contributed with the Eagles, adding 8 points through 12 games, before signing a one-year NHL contract with the Avalanche for the remainder of the campaign on March 30, 2021. [9]

He made his debut for the Avalanche, appearing in his first NHL contest in over three years, in a 4–2 victory over the St. Louis Blues on April 2, 2021. [10] He recorded his first multi-point game with a career-high 2 assists in a 4–3 victory over the Blues on April 14, 2021. [11] Adding physicality in a fourth-line role for Colorado, O'Brien finished with 3 assists and 40 penalty minutes through 12 regular season games.

As a free agent, O'Brien signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Arizona Coyotes on July 28, 2021. [12] On October 25, 2021 O'Brien scored his first NHL goal since the 2014–15 season when he beat Spencer Knight in a 5–3 loss to the Florida Panthers. [13] In his first season with the Coyotes, he established new career highs in games played in the NHL, goals, points, penalty minutes and shots. On March 6, 2022 O'Brien signed a two-year contract extension with the Coyotes. [14]

Shortly after the end of the 2023–24 regular season, the Coyotes' franchise was suspended and team assets were subsequently transferred to the expansion Utah Hockey Club; as a result, O'Brien became a member of the Utah team. [15] Shortly before free agency, he signed a three-year contract extension worth $1 million annual to remain with Utah. [16]

International play

As a 16 year old, O'Brien was selected to compete at the 2011 World U-17 Hockey Challenge. [17]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

   Regular season   Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
2009–10 Notre Dame Hounds SMHL 41132538981343730
2010–11 Rimouski Oceanic QMJHL 6128104550006
2011–12 Rimouski OceanicQMJHL40791667
2011–12 Rouyn-Noranda Huskies QMJHL27371069410111
2012–13 Rouyn-Noranda HuskiesQMJHL651014241641221317
2013–14 Rouyn-Noranda HuskiesQMJHL68201535148913412
2014–15 Washington Capitals NHL 1311223
2014–15 Hershey Bears AHL 454481211033614
2015–16 Hershey BearsAHL5979161202042665
2016–17 Hershey BearsAHL64102030117600013
2016–17 Washington CapitalsNHL10000
2017–18 Hershey BearsAHL691792679
2017–18 Washington CapitalsNHL30005
2018–19 Hershey BearsAHL74151328118810121
2019–20 Hershey BearsAHL5910192983
2020–21 Colorado Eagles AHL1244815
2020–21 Colorado Avalanche NHL1203340
2021–22 Arizona Coyotes NHL39213106
2022–23 Arizona CoyotesNHL563811114
2023–24 Arizona CoyotesNHL755914153
NHL totals199112233441

International

YearTeamEventResult GPGAPtsPIM
2011 Canada Atlantic U17 5th51128
Junior totals51128

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">José Théodore</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 1976)

José Nicolas Théodore is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Montreal Canadiens, Colorado Avalanche, Washington Capitals, Minnesota Wild, and Florida Panthers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Aebischer</span> Swiss ice hockey player (born 1978)

David Aebischer is a Swiss former professional ice hockey goaltender who played in the National Hockey League with the Colorado Avalanche, Montreal Canadiens and the Phoenix Coyotes. He was a member of the 2001 Stanley Cup champion Avalanche team, becoming the first Swiss native to achieve the feat. Aebischer also played several seasons in his native Switzerland with HC Fribourg-Gottéron, HC Lugano and the Rapperswil-Jona Lakers of the National League (NL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Ribeiro</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 1980)

Michael Tavares Ribeiro is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre. Originally selected by the Montreal Canadiens in the second round, 45th overall, of the 1998 NHL Entry Draft, Ribeiro has played in the NHL for the Canadiens, Dallas Stars, Washington Capitals, Phoenix Coyotes and the Nashville Predators.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wojtek Wolski</span> Polish-Canadian ice hockey player

Wojciech "Wojtek" Wolski is a Polish-Canadian former professional ice hockey forward who played eight seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Colorado Avalanche, Phoenix Coyotes, New York Rangers, Florida Panthers and Washington Capitals. After leaving the NHL in 2013, Wolski continued his career in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), playing for Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, Metallurg Magnitogorsk and Kunlun Red Star.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lars Eller</span> Danish ice hockey player (born 1989)

Lars Fosgaard Eller is a Danish professional ice hockey player for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League (NHL). Nicknamed "the Tiger", he was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the first round, 13th overall, in the 2007 NHL entry draft. Eller made his NHL debut in 2009 with the Blues and was traded to the Montreal Canadiens in 2010, where he played six seasons, before being traded to the Capitals in 2016. He became the first person from Denmark to win the Stanley Cup when the Capitals won in 2018, scoring the Stanley Cup-winning goal. After a brief stint with the Colorado Avalanche, Eller joined the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2023, becoming the first Danish player to play in 1,000 NHL games, before being traded back to the Capitals in 2024. Internationally, Eller has played for the Danish national team at both the junior and senior level, including at five World Championships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel Winnik</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 1985)

Daniel Spencer Winnik is a Canadian former professional ice hockey winger. He played 11 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) and played his final six seasons in Switzerland for Genève-Servette HC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexandre Bolduc</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 1985)

Alexandre Bolduc is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played in the National Hockey League (NHL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jordan Caron</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 1990)

Jordan Julien Caron is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward. He was drafted in the first round, 25th overall, by the Boston Bruins in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft from the Rimouski Océanic of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Carey (ice hockey)</span> American ice hockey player (born 1988)

Paul Charles Carey is an American coach and former professional ice hockey center who played in the National Hockey League (NHL). After being drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, Carey also played for the Washington Capitals, New York Rangers, Ottawa Senators, Boston Bruins, and Djurgårdens IF.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex Galchenyuk</span> American ice hockey player (born 1994)

Alexander Alexandrovich Galchenyuk is a Belarusian-American professional ice hockey center for Amur Khabarovsk of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He was selected third overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2012 NHL entry draft. Galchenyuk has also previously played for the Arizona Coyotes, Pittsburgh Penguins, Minnesota Wild, Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Colorado Avalanche.

The 2012–13 Colorado Avalanche season was the 41st overall season for the franchise, 34th season in the National Hockey League (NHL), since June 22, 1979, and 18th season since the franchise relocated to Colorado to start the 1995–96 NHL season. The regular season was reduced from its usual 82 games to 48 due to the 2012–13 NHL lockout.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">André Burakovsky</span> Swedish ice hockey player (born 1995)

André Burakovsky is a Swedish professional ice hockey forward for the Seattle Kraken of the National Hockey League (NHL). He has previously played for the Washington Capitals, who drafted him 23rd overall in 2013, along with the Colorado Avalanche, who acquired his rights and consequently signed him during the 2019 offseason. Burakovsky is a two-time Stanley Cup champion, winning with the Capitals in 2018 and the Avalanche in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Whitney</span> American ice hockey forward (born 1988)

Joseph Ryan Whitney is an American former professional ice hockey forward. He most notably played with the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sven Andrighetto</span> Swiss ice hockey player (born 1993)

Sven Andrighetto is a Swiss professional ice hockey winger for the ZSC Lions of the National League (NL). He was selected in the third-round, 86th overall, by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. Andrighetto has also previously played for the Colorado Avalanche.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">André Tourigny</span> Canadian ice hockey coach

André Tourigny is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach who is the head coach for the Utah Hockey Club of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously served as head coach of the Arizona Coyotes and an assistant coach for the Ottawa Senators and Colorado Avalanche.

The following is a list of all team-to-team transactions that have occurred in the National Hockey League during the 2014–15 NHL season. It lists which team each player has been traded to, signed by, or claimed by, and for which player(s) or draft pick (s), if applicable. Players who have retired are also listed. The 2014–15 trade deadline was on March 2, 2015. Any players traded or claimed off waivers after this date were eligible to play up until, but not in the 2015 Stanley Cup playoffs.

The following is a list of all team-to-team transactions that have occurred in the National Hockey League (NHL) during the 2017–18 NHL season. It lists which team each player has been traded to, signed by, or claimed by, and for which player(s) or draft pick (s), if applicable. Players who have retired are also listed. The 2017–18 NHL trade deadline was on February 26, 2018. Players traded after this date were not eligible to play in the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs.

The 2018–19 Washington Capitals season was the 45th season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on June 11, 1974. It was the first season with new head coach Todd Reirden. They entered the season as the defending Stanley Cup champions. The Capitals clinched a playoff spot on March 28, 2019, after a 3–2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. On April 4, the team defended their division title in a 2–1 win against the Montreal Canadiens.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">J.C. Beaudin</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 1997)

Jean-Christophe Beaudin is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who is currently playing for HC TPS in the Liiga. He was selected 71st overall by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.

References

  1. Cotsonika, Nicholas J. (September 23, 2024). "Utah wins 'truly special' 1st preseason home game". Nhl.com. Archived from the original on September 24, 2024. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  2. O'Brien, Liam (September 26, 2014). "Liam O'Brien's journal: The CHL is a business". Sportsnet. Archived from the original on April 14, 2019. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
  3. "Liam O'brien échangé à Rouyn-Noranda" [Liam O'brien traded to Rouyn-Noranda]. oceanic.qc.ca (in French). December 30, 2011. Archived from the original on April 14, 2019. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
  4. "Capitals sign Liam O'Brien to three-year entry-level deal". The Washington Post . 2014-10-06. Archived from the original on 2015-06-01. Retrieved 2014-10-06.
  5. "Capitals rookies O'brien and Burakovsky to make NHL debuts". The Washington Post . 2014-10-09. Archived from the original on 2014-10-10. Retrieved 2014-10-09.
  6. "Trotz pleased with Capitals feistiness vs Canadiens". The Washington Post . 2014-10-10. Archived from the original on 2014-10-11. Retrieved 2014-10-10.
  7. "Capitals re-sign O'Brien". Washington Capitals. June 10, 2019. Archived from the original on December 14, 2019. Retrieved June 10, 2019.
  8. "Eagles add toughness, scoring with O'Brien". Colorado Eagles. November 27, 2020. Archived from the original on November 27, 2020. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  9. "Avalanche signs Middleton and O'Brien". Colorado Avalanche. March 31, 2021. Archived from the original on March 31, 2021. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  10. "Avalanche clinch playoff berth in win over Blues". ESPN . April 28, 2021. Archived from the original on April 23, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  11. "Avalanche use 3 goals in second period to down Blues". ESPN . April 14, 2021. Archived from the original on July 29, 2021. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  12. "Coyotes sign Liam O'Brien to one-year contract". Arizona Coyotes. July 28, 2021. Archived from the original on July 28, 2021. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  13. "Coyotes' Liam O'Brien: Nabs first goal since 2014-15". CBS Sports. October 25, 2021. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  14. Romero, José M. (March 6, 2022). "Coyotes sign forward, top enforcer Liam O'Brien to two-year contract". AZcentral.com. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  15. "Coyotes give fans a win in final Arizona game, fans show plenty of love". azcentral.com. April 17, 2024. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  16. "Forward Liam O'Brien signs 3-year extension with Utah HC". ESPN. June 26, 2024. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
  17. "Le seul 16 ans de l'Océanic, choisit pour une importante compétition !!!". oceanic.qc.ca (in French). November 23, 2010. Archived from the original on January 8, 2019. Retrieved January 8, 2019.